Tornado party sparks new storm

A STREET party to mark the anniversary of Birmingham's tornado, which caused an estimated £25million worth of damage, has been cancelled after organisers were branded insensitive for seeking to celebrate the disaster.

A STREET party to mark the anniversary of Birmingham's tornado, which caused an estimated #25million worth of damage, has been cancelled after organisers were branded insensitive for seeking to celebrate the disaster.

The event was to take place in Balsall Heath, one of the worst affected areas, tomorrow and on Saturday, and feature a funfair and bouncy castle in Sparkbrook.

Ladypool Road was to be closed off for traffic and devoted to street stalls and other entertainment.

However, the celebration has been put on hold after residents argued it would have struck the wrong tone on the anniversary of the tornado that left 19 people injured and damaged 1,000 properties.

Instead, a later event is being proposed which, according to Birmingham City Council, will "coincide with the festivals of Eid, Divali and Christmas".

Naved Syed, organiser of the aborted street party, said: "They complained that there were too many people traumatised by it and they said we shouldn't celebrate it.

"But it wasn't about celebrating the tornado. It was about highlighting it and saying there are still problems that need addressing.

"The idea was to draw attention to it and let the politicians know they still have a responsibility to the people."

Police, the army and navy, local schools and Mosques had agreed to join in the party that would have started tomorrow - exactly a year after the 130mph whirlwind hit.

Mr Syed, who was appointed by the Ladypool Business Association to get the project off the ground, added: "I am very disappointed the residents have created this friction between the traders."

Dick Atkinson, chief executive of the Balsall Heath Forum which represents residents in the area, said the timing of the party was inappropriate.

"By all means celebrate, but not on the day," he said. "On the day, we should mark it quietly and in a sombre way. Residents were very grateful to the traders for thinking about how to mark the occasion."

Birmingham City Council is now working with the community to find an alternative date and theme. A spokesman for the authority said: "The traders have decided that an event later in the year to coincide with the festivals of Eid, Divali and Christmas to generate activity in this area around these festivals would be a more appropriate time."

The socially deprived areas of Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath were those worst affected by the freak storm last July.

Within minutes, the tornado had cut a huge swathe across south Birmingham, ripping roofs off, sucking out trees and blowing over cars. The twister caused an estimated #25 million worth of damage to homes and businesses in Kings Heath, Moseley, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath.

Alder Road in Balsall Heath, along with Birchfield Road, were the worst affected streets.

A day trip to the seaside has been organised for families whose lives were blighted by the tornado. Up to 160 people from Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook are to travel to Rhyl, in north Wales, next month, thanks to the Ladypool Business Association.